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Changes to Adult Charging

Changes to Adult Charging. David Laws, Head of Finance, Adult Services, Lincolnshire County Council. 17 November 2010. What I want to do today. Talk to you about changes we are making to charges for Adult Social Care Tell you how we used what you said in the consultation

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Changes to Adult Charging

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  1. Changes to Adult Charging • David Laws, Head of Finance, Adult Services, Lincolnshire County Council 17 November 2010

  2. What I want to do today • Talk to you about changes we are making to charges for Adult Social Care • Tell you how we used what you said in the consultation • Some of the words or ideas may be hard to understand – ask me to explain…

  3. Charging for Social Care • In England and Wales, social care is not free. Local councils ask people to pay some money towards the cost of their care if they can afford it. • Each council needs this money to help pay for the cost of services. • The politicians at each Council decide how much it is fair to ask people to pay. • Social care is free if you have little money to live on – for example some benefits.

  4. What happens here? • Lincolnshire only used to charge for some services, like part of supported living or home care for older people. • The Council fully subsidised other services such as transport and day services, which were free to use.

  5. Why is charging changing in Lincolnshire? • More people need support and care. The Council must raise more money to pay for care. • Government cutbacks mean the Council must find other fair ways to pay for care. • Personal Budgets mean the old way of charging for only some services no longer makes sense (perverse incentives). • The Council believes it is simpler and fairer to make a charge based on your ability to pay, not on what service you use. • It used to be mostly older people that paid a charge for services they received – now everyone will be assessed on their ability to pay in exactly the same way.

  6. We said – you did? • 49% of the people consulted disagreed with being charged for all services. Carers and younger people were most likely to disagree. 25% agreed. • Almost all consultees preferred being charged against part of their personal budget rather than all of it. • 20% agreed with being charged against all of a personal budget. • Most consultees thought a transitional period to adjust to new charges was important. 1,779 responses: 53% service users 32% carers. (27% under 65; 59% disability or long term health condition)

  7. What have the politicians decided? • All non-residential services will be charged for at their real cost • If you get a personal budget as a Direct Payment, then you will get charged on 90% of the real cost of the service (10% subsidy). • There will be a new maximum charge of £250 per week • There will be an independent appeals process – e.g. if you cannot afford to pay the assessed charge. • This will raise £1.47 million to pay for care services.

  8. How will this affect people with learning disabilities? • Some people who used to get free services may now have to pay a charge. • If you have over £23,250 you will have to pay either the full cost of the service or the maximum charge a week (very few people), whichever is lower.

  9. Don’t forget: • You get charged on your ability to pay • This means your income, any savings, any capital & expenses are taken into account. • Your disability related expenses are taken into account. • If your income is the same as Income Support plus 25% then you will not get charged. • If you are charged, your income will not get reduced to below Income Support plus 25%. • If your income goes up or down, you need to tell us.

  10. Frequently asked questions by Georgie Allen Q. What if I can’t afford it? - Contact us to discuss your problem. Everyone gets a benefit check so they can claim everything they are entitled to. - Don’t forget Disability Related Expenditure. - Independent appeal process Q. Will the service charge go up? - It will go up if you used to get a free service and have enough money to pay a charge. - It will go up for 58% of people already paying a charge. - It won’t go up for 42% of people who currently get a chargeable service. Q. Will it affect how many days I use a day service? - It shouldn’t. Talk to your practitioner if you are thinking of reducing your service so as to pay less.

  11. Frequently asked questions 2 by Georgie Allen How will I pay? - You can pay by Direct Debit or with an AllPay card at Post offices. Who will pay that hasn’t paid before? - People will be assessed for charging for the first time if they used to get free services such as transport or day services.

  12. What I would like the Board to do • Consider what information do people with learning disabilities and families need about Adult Charging? • What are the best ways to get it to them? • Frequently asked questions? Examples?

  13. How you can get in touch with me • Address: Orchard House, Lincoln LN1 1BA • Telephone: 01522 554091 • Email: david.laws@lincolnshire.gov.uk

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